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Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Apr 14, 2017
Ardian Syaf Sengaja Tulis 'QS 5:51' dan '212' di Komik Marvel
Cnnindonesia.com - Komikus Indonesia yang punya garapan untuk Marvel, Ardian Syaf memasukkan simbol berkaitan dengan isu politik dan agama ke dalam karyanya, X-Men Gold #1. Ardian memuat unsur Surat Al Maidah ayat 51 yang tertulis 'QS 5:51' dan '212' yang merujuk pada 2 Desember 2016.
Mar 11, 2017
Israel bill to limit Muslim call to prayer passes parliamentary first reading
Independent.co.uk - An Israeli law to limit the Muslim call to prayer from mosques has won preliminary approval though opponents have denounced the measure as racist.
Jan 22, 2016
Malaysia’s first shariah airline is called Rayani Air
Metro.co.uk - Malaysia’s first shariah airline began operations on Sunday, with its maiden flight from the capital to the resort island of Langkawi.
Oct 14, 2013
Tattooed Jesus billboard campaign is condemned as blasphemous by Bible Belt residents in city where posters went up
Dailymail.co.uk - A series of billboards showing Jesus covered in tattoos has upset many Christians living in the Texas city where the posters have been put up.
The billboards, which show Jesus with the sins of those who have come to him tattooed across his body, have been condemned as blasphemous by some West Lubbock residents.
However, the grassroots group behind the campaign say the posters were meant to spread a positive message and get people talking.
The billboards feature Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and with his arms outstretched. Across his bare chest and arms words such as 'outcast', 'addicted', 'jealous' and 'hatred' have been tattooed on his skin.
'I don't like the picture. I think it's very derogatory,' one resident told ABC News.
Another said: 'I'm thinking it's more blasphemous, negative.'
The poster directs people to the website Jesustattoo.org, where a video shows people coming to Jesus to have their sins cleansed.
During the six-minute video, a woman seen having her tattoo of 'self righteous' changed to 'humbled' and a boy on crutches having 'outcast' changed to 'accepted' are among those who visit the tattoo parlor.
The billboards, which show Jesus with the sins of those who have come to him tattooed across his body, have been condemned as blasphemous by some West Lubbock residents.
However, the grassroots group behind the campaign say the posters were meant to spread a positive message and get people talking.
The billboards feature Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and with his arms outstretched. Across his bare chest and arms words such as 'outcast', 'addicted', 'jealous' and 'hatred' have been tattooed on his skin.
'I don't like the picture. I think it's very derogatory,' one resident told ABC News.
Another said: 'I'm thinking it's more blasphemous, negative.'
The poster directs people to the website Jesustattoo.org, where a video shows people coming to Jesus to have their sins cleansed.
During the six-minute video, a woman seen having her tattoo of 'self righteous' changed to 'humbled' and a boy on crutches having 'outcast' changed to 'accepted' are among those who visit the tattoo parlor.
The video then shows the negative tattoos appearing on the body of Jesus, whose skin had been unblemished at the start of the film.
While some find the poster campaign in poor taste, the pastor of the city's Southcrest Baptist Church has praised its message.
'I thought that it was cleverly done because, basically, it's a visual of Jesus taking the sins of people and covering them and taking them from an outcast or something and giving them a new start, which is what the gospel is about,' David Wilson said.
'This is perfect because it just draws people in here,' he added.
The group behind the campaign, who have erected more than 50 billboards across Lubbock in the past nine days, say they are not trying sell anything.
Ashleigh Sawyer, the group's spokesman, said: 'The message is a simple one, Jesus's love is transformative. He loves us unconditionally and no matter what you've been marked with, faith in Him and love for others will transform us.'
While some find the poster campaign in poor taste, the pastor of the city's Southcrest Baptist Church has praised its message.
'I thought that it was cleverly done because, basically, it's a visual of Jesus taking the sins of people and covering them and taking them from an outcast or something and giving them a new start, which is what the gospel is about,' David Wilson said.
'This is perfect because it just draws people in here,' he added.
The group behind the campaign, who have erected more than 50 billboards across Lubbock in the past nine days, say they are not trying sell anything.
Ashleigh Sawyer, the group's spokesman, said: 'The message is a simple one, Jesus's love is transformative. He loves us unconditionally and no matter what you've been marked with, faith in Him and love for others will transform us.'
She told the Christian Post the group, which is not affiliated with any organization, accepted some may find the images of tattoos on Jesus to be in poor taste, but defended the reasons behind the campaign.
'We welcome the controversy because we understand that a dialogue on the issue is the best way to spread the message,' Ms Sawyer said.
The group plans to extend its billboard campaign to other regions.
'We welcome the controversy because we understand that a dialogue on the issue is the best way to spread the message,' Ms Sawyer said.
The group plans to extend its billboard campaign to other regions.
Apr 23, 2013
The Bible -- fact or fiction?
Foxnews.com - The enormous success of “The Bible” miniseries on The History Channel has left many production houses scrambling to get more movies/shows based on Scripture in production.
The record-setting ratings give the general faith community something to cheer about after several years of disturbing trends: overall decrease in church attendance, an increase in those claiming no religious affiliation, and a perception that religious people are intolerant and out of touch with mainstream values.
In spite of the 11.7 million viewers that tuned into the series finale and the half million DVD units sold within the first week of release, the real question is: do people believe these Bible stories to be fact or fiction?
Are they merely mythological stories that Bronze Age people constructed to communicate their culture and beliefs, or are they historical events that actually happened?
Remember, plenty of fictional series today get massive audiences like “Iron Man” and “The Walking Dead.” Ratings alone are not enough to validate the stories told in “The Bible.”
Instead, we need to look at the evidence. I believe, and there is a great amount of supporting evidence to verify it, that the stories in the Bible are true.
Just look at the event called Easter, recently celebrated around the world by more than 2 billion people. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ a nice story that communicates some allegorical message or is (and was) it a true historical event?
Let’s start with the most logical piece of historical evidence: 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus actually lived. Even popular Bible critic Bart Erhman concedes that Jesus indeed lived.
The four Gospels are the primary records that tell of Jesus’ words and actions. They all agree that He lived, died by crucifixion and rose again from the grave.
It was this story—a news story, not a bedtime story—that launched the Christian faith three days after Jesus’ death.
It was because people knew that dead people usually stay dead that they believed Jesus’ physical appearance just days after His death was indeed a miracle.
Ten of the 12 original followers of Christ would die the death of a martyr (not taking others lives, but being put to death for their faith) because they testified that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
If something like the resurrection can be seen as the best explanation of the empty tomb after Jesus’ death, then all the other miracle stories become plausible.
“New atheists,” such as biologist Richard Dawkins and physicist Lawrence Krauss, are quick to hurl the assertion that the Bible is a book of fairy tales, dismissing the resurrection as one of them.
As far as a fairy tale, a simple week long trip to Israel would quickly and dramatically demonstrate to the rational mind that the people and places mentioned in the Bible are real. You will find very few people living in Israel today, religious or secular, that think Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus were fictitious characters.
Overall, when you compare the Bible to other ancient documents it stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of historical accuracy and archaeological verifiability. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls showed that the content of the Bible had been transmitted faithfully throughout the centuries.
Its extraordinary impact is felt in virtually every aspect of our life and culture, from education—106 of the first 108 universities in America, like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, were founded with a primary goal of teaching and promoting the Christian faith—to our nation’s view of helping the poor and the needy.
The countless hospitals and charities that have dramatically helped millions in their suffering and pain testify to the power of its principles and teachings. Far from religious faith being a bad thing, as Dawkins and his followers suggest, it has been a source of great hope and healing for billions.
Remember, the Bible is not just one book; it is a collection of 66 books, written by more than 40 different authors over a period of 1,600 years. The amazing consistency of its message to mankind points to the reality that it is not just a book that man wrote about God, but one that God has inspired and given to mankind as a great gift of light in the darkness.
Given the evidence, what do you think? Is the historically accurate text that our nation is built upon a book of fairy tales and myths? Or does the single, greatest book ever written, whose timeless stories brought in millions of viewers, have the benefit of being true?
You decide.
The record-setting ratings give the general faith community something to cheer about after several years of disturbing trends: overall decrease in church attendance, an increase in those claiming no religious affiliation, and a perception that religious people are intolerant and out of touch with mainstream values.
In spite of the 11.7 million viewers that tuned into the series finale and the half million DVD units sold within the first week of release, the real question is: do people believe these Bible stories to be fact or fiction?
Are they merely mythological stories that Bronze Age people constructed to communicate their culture and beliefs, or are they historical events that actually happened?
Remember, plenty of fictional series today get massive audiences like “Iron Man” and “The Walking Dead.” Ratings alone are not enough to validate the stories told in “The Bible.”
Instead, we need to look at the evidence. I believe, and there is a great amount of supporting evidence to verify it, that the stories in the Bible are true.
Just look at the event called Easter, recently celebrated around the world by more than 2 billion people. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ a nice story that communicates some allegorical message or is (and was) it a true historical event?
Let’s start with the most logical piece of historical evidence: 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus actually lived. Even popular Bible critic Bart Erhman concedes that Jesus indeed lived.
The four Gospels are the primary records that tell of Jesus’ words and actions. They all agree that He lived, died by crucifixion and rose again from the grave.
It was this story—a news story, not a bedtime story—that launched the Christian faith three days after Jesus’ death.
It was because people knew that dead people usually stay dead that they believed Jesus’ physical appearance just days after His death was indeed a miracle.
Ten of the 12 original followers of Christ would die the death of a martyr (not taking others lives, but being put to death for their faith) because they testified that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
If something like the resurrection can be seen as the best explanation of the empty tomb after Jesus’ death, then all the other miracle stories become plausible.
“New atheists,” such as biologist Richard Dawkins and physicist Lawrence Krauss, are quick to hurl the assertion that the Bible is a book of fairy tales, dismissing the resurrection as one of them.
As far as a fairy tale, a simple week long trip to Israel would quickly and dramatically demonstrate to the rational mind that the people and places mentioned in the Bible are real. You will find very few people living in Israel today, religious or secular, that think Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus were fictitious characters.
Overall, when you compare the Bible to other ancient documents it stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of historical accuracy and archaeological verifiability. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls showed that the content of the Bible had been transmitted faithfully throughout the centuries.
Its extraordinary impact is felt in virtually every aspect of our life and culture, from education—106 of the first 108 universities in America, like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, were founded with a primary goal of teaching and promoting the Christian faith—to our nation’s view of helping the poor and the needy.
The countless hospitals and charities that have dramatically helped millions in their suffering and pain testify to the power of its principles and teachings. Far from religious faith being a bad thing, as Dawkins and his followers suggest, it has been a source of great hope and healing for billions.
Remember, the Bible is not just one book; it is a collection of 66 books, written by more than 40 different authors over a period of 1,600 years. The amazing consistency of its message to mankind points to the reality that it is not just a book that man wrote about God, but one that God has inspired and given to mankind as a great gift of light in the darkness.
Given the evidence, what do you think? Is the historically accurate text that our nation is built upon a book of fairy tales and myths? Or does the single, greatest book ever written, whose timeless stories brought in millions of viewers, have the benefit of being true?
You decide.
Apr 12, 2013
Analisis Tinta Ungkap Keaslian Injil Yudas
Kompas.com - Injil Yudas yang kontroversial terus mengundang tanya. Salah satu yang dipertanyakan ialah kebenaran dokumen itu sebagai naskah kuno. Jangan-jangan naskah tersebut sebenarnya tulisan baru yang dibuat seolah-olah tua.
Tim ilmuwan yang dipimpin oleh Joseph Barabe dari McCrone Associate di Illinois baru-baru ini berhasil mengungkap keaslian Injil Yudas sebagai naskah kuno. Mereka melakukannya dengan studi tinta pada teks Injil Yudas.
Diberitakan Livescience, Senin (8/4/2013), Barabe menemukan bahwa tinta yang digunakan menulis terdiri dari dua macam, yaitu warna hitam dan coklat yang dicampur. Pencampuran dua macam tinta ini biasa dilakukan di masa lalu.
Untuk tinta hitam, jenis tinta yang digunakan dalam Injil Yudas adalah disebut lamp back. Jenis tinta ini sama dengan jenis tinta yang digunakan pada teks peradaban kuno hingga abad ketiga Masehi.
Namun, untuk jenis tinta coklat, Barabe menemui kejanggalan. Tinta coklat merupakan tinta yang kaya besi, disebut irol gall, tetapi miskin belerang. Biasanya, tinta coklat tersebut juga kaya akan sulfur.
Barabe menemukan tantangan untuk mencari apakah tinta coklat sejenis juga digunakan pada dokumen kuno lain. Ia kemudian mempelajari surat pernikahan serta surat tanah yang diterbitkan pada masa Mesir, yang didapatkan dari Museum Louvre.
Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa surat pernikahan dan surat tanah pada masa lalu pun menggunakan tinta iron gall. Dengan demikian, Barabe yakin Injil Yudas memang merupakan naskah kuno, yang berasal dari tahun 280 Masehi.
Studi tinta memang menjadi keahlian Barabe. Lewat studi tinta, Barabe memutuskan apakah teks atau lukisan yang diklaim kuno memang benar-benar kuno. Sebelumnya, mereka berhasil mengungkap bahwa naskah "Archaic Mark" yang diklaim kuno ternyata palsu.
Hasil studi tentang Injil Yudas ini dipaparkan dalam American Chemical Society in New Orleans pada Senin lalu. Injil Yudas sendiri merupakan naskah kontroversial yang memotret Yudas Iskariot bukan sebagai pengkhianat, melainkan teman dekat Yesus yang mengetahui rencana Tuhan kepada Yesus.
Injil Yudas mengungkap alasan di balik ciuman yang dilakukannya sebelum Yesus diadili dan disalib. Jika Injil lain (Matius, Markus, Lukas, dan Yohanes) menyatakan bahwa Yudas berkhianat untuk 30 keping perak, Injil Yudas mengungkap bahwa Yudas melakukannya atas perintah Yesus, membebaskan roh Yesus dari raga-Nya.
Tim ilmuwan yang dipimpin oleh Joseph Barabe dari McCrone Associate di Illinois baru-baru ini berhasil mengungkap keaslian Injil Yudas sebagai naskah kuno. Mereka melakukannya dengan studi tinta pada teks Injil Yudas.
Diberitakan Livescience, Senin (8/4/2013), Barabe menemukan bahwa tinta yang digunakan menulis terdiri dari dua macam, yaitu warna hitam dan coklat yang dicampur. Pencampuran dua macam tinta ini biasa dilakukan di masa lalu.
Untuk tinta hitam, jenis tinta yang digunakan dalam Injil Yudas adalah disebut lamp back. Jenis tinta ini sama dengan jenis tinta yang digunakan pada teks peradaban kuno hingga abad ketiga Masehi.
Namun, untuk jenis tinta coklat, Barabe menemui kejanggalan. Tinta coklat merupakan tinta yang kaya besi, disebut irol gall, tetapi miskin belerang. Biasanya, tinta coklat tersebut juga kaya akan sulfur.
Barabe menemukan tantangan untuk mencari apakah tinta coklat sejenis juga digunakan pada dokumen kuno lain. Ia kemudian mempelajari surat pernikahan serta surat tanah yang diterbitkan pada masa Mesir, yang didapatkan dari Museum Louvre.
Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa surat pernikahan dan surat tanah pada masa lalu pun menggunakan tinta iron gall. Dengan demikian, Barabe yakin Injil Yudas memang merupakan naskah kuno, yang berasal dari tahun 280 Masehi.
Studi tinta memang menjadi keahlian Barabe. Lewat studi tinta, Barabe memutuskan apakah teks atau lukisan yang diklaim kuno memang benar-benar kuno. Sebelumnya, mereka berhasil mengungkap bahwa naskah "Archaic Mark" yang diklaim kuno ternyata palsu.
Hasil studi tentang Injil Yudas ini dipaparkan dalam American Chemical Society in New Orleans pada Senin lalu. Injil Yudas sendiri merupakan naskah kontroversial yang memotret Yudas Iskariot bukan sebagai pengkhianat, melainkan teman dekat Yesus yang mengetahui rencana Tuhan kepada Yesus.
Injil Yudas mengungkap alasan di balik ciuman yang dilakukannya sebelum Yesus diadili dan disalib. Jika Injil lain (Matius, Markus, Lukas, dan Yohanes) menyatakan bahwa Yudas berkhianat untuk 30 keping perak, Injil Yudas mengungkap bahwa Yudas melakukannya atas perintah Yesus, membebaskan roh Yesus dari raga-Nya.
May 25, 2012
Bible-era earthquake reveals year of Jesus' crucifixion
Foxnews.com - Jesus, as described in the New Testament, was most likely crucified on Friday April 3, 33 A.D.
The latest investigation, reported in the journal International Geology Review, focused on earthquake activity at the Dead Sea, located 13 miles from Jerusalem. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27, mentions that an earthquake coincided with the crucifixion:
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.”
To analyze earthquake activity in the region, geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea.
Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and an early first century seismic event that happened sometime between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D.
The latter period occurred during “the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained,” Williams said.
"The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision," he said. But the year has been in question.
In terms of textual clues to the date of the crucifixion, Williams quoted a Nature paper authored by Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington. Williams summarized their work as follows:
The latest investigation, reported in the journal International Geology Review, focused on earthquake activity at the Dead Sea, located 13 miles from Jerusalem. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27, mentions that an earthquake coincided with the crucifixion:
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.”
To analyze earthquake activity in the region, geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea.
Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and an early first century seismic event that happened sometime between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D.
The latter period occurred during “the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained,” Williams said.
"The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision," he said. But the year has been in question.
In terms of textual clues to the date of the crucifixion, Williams quoted a Nature paper authored by Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington. Williams summarized their work as follows:
- All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV,44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from 26-36 AD.
- All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
- All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).
- The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) indicate that Jesus died before nightfall on the 14th day of Nisan; right before the start of the Passover meal.
- John’s gospel differs from the synoptics; apparently indicating that Jesus died before nightfall on the 15th day of Nisan.
When data about the Jewish calendar and astronomical calculations are factored in, a handful of possible dates result, with Friday April 3, 33 A.D. being the best match, according to the researchers.
In terms of the earthquake data alone, Williams and his team acknowledge that the seismic activity associated with the crucifixion could refer to “an earthquake that occurred sometime before or after the crucifixion and was in effect ‘borrowed’ by the author of the Gospel of Matthew, and a local earthquake between 26 and 36 A.D. that was sufficiently energetic to deform the sediments of Ein Gedi but not energetic enough to produce a still extant and extra-biblical historical record.”
“If the last possibility is true, this would mean that the report of an earthquake in the Gospel of Matthew is a type of allegory,” they write.
Williams is studying yet another possible natural happening associated with the crucifixion - darkness.
Three of the four canonical gospels report darkness from noon to 3 PM after the crucifixion. Such darkness could have been caused by a dust storm, he believes.
Williams is investigating if there are dust storm deposits in the sediments coincident with the early first century Jerusalem region earthquake.
Feb 24, 2012
Iran court convicts Christian pastor convert to death
Foxnews.com - A trial court in Iran has issued its final verdict, ordering a Christian pastor to be put to death for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, according to sources close to the pastor and his legal team.
Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.
It is unclear whether Nadarkhani can appeal the execution order.
“The world needs to stand up and say that a man cannot be put to death because of his faith,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
“This one case is not just about one execution. We have been able to expose the system instead of just letting one man disappear, like so many other Christians have in the past.”
It is also feared that Nadarkhani will be executed in retaliation as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue rhetoric. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.
“This is defiance,” Sekulow said. “They want to say they will carry out what they say they will do.”
The order to execute Nadarkhani came only days after lawmakers in Congress supported a resolution sponsored by Pennsylvania Rep. Joseph Pitts denouncing the apostasy charge and calling for his immediate release.
“Iran has become more isolated because of their drive for nuclear weapons, and the fundamentalist government has stepped up persecution of religious minorities to deflect criticism,” Pitts, a Republican, told FoxNews.com. “The persecuted are their own citizens, whose only crime is practicing their faith.”
The ACLJ has been a major driving force in keeping Nadarkhani’s case in the international spotlight. Many other advocacy groups and human rights organizations also have mounted global campaigns and petitions against the Iranian government, and experts credit Nadarkhani’s international support for keeping him alive.
The ACLJ recently launched a Twitter campaign to publicize Nadarkhani’s case, asking participants to dedicate a daily tweet to “Tweet for Youcef,” stating the number of days he has been imprisoned (currently 863) and ending the tweet with “ViaOfficialACLJ,” sending readers back to the organization’s website where they could learn more about his case.
Tweets have reached 157 countries and over 400,000 people.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and 89 members of Congress, along with the European Union, France, Great Britain, Mexico and Germany, have condemned Iran for arresting Nadarkhani and have called for his quick release.
Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 and was tried and found guilty of apostasy by a lower court in Gilan, a province in Rasht. He was then given verbal notification of an impending death-by-hanging sentence.
His lawyers appealed the decision under the premise that Nadarkhani was never a Muslim at the age of majority, and the case was sent to Iran’s Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court’s decision of execution, provided it could be proven that he had been a practicing Muslim from the age of adulthood, 15 in Islamic law, to age 19, which was when he converted.
The lower court then ruled that Nadarkhani had not practiced Islam during his adult life but still upheld the apostasy charge because he was born into a Muslim family.
The court then gave Nadarkhani the opportunity to recant, as the law requires a man to be given three chances to recant his beliefs and return to Islam.
His first option was to convert back to Islam. When he refused, he was asked to declare Muhammad a prophet, and still he declined.
Iran’s judiciary had delayed in issuing a final verdict, fearing the decision would have far-reaching political implications.
Sources say Nadarkhani has been advised by family members, lawyers and members of his church to remain silent throughout his ordeal, out of fear that authorities may use his statements against him, a strategy commonly employed by the regime.
Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.
It is unclear whether Nadarkhani can appeal the execution order.
“The world needs to stand up and say that a man cannot be put to death because of his faith,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
“This one case is not just about one execution. We have been able to expose the system instead of just letting one man disappear, like so many other Christians have in the past.”
It is also feared that Nadarkhani will be executed in retaliation as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue rhetoric. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.
“This is defiance,” Sekulow said. “They want to say they will carry out what they say they will do.”
The order to execute Nadarkhani came only days after lawmakers in Congress supported a resolution sponsored by Pennsylvania Rep. Joseph Pitts denouncing the apostasy charge and calling for his immediate release.
“Iran has become more isolated because of their drive for nuclear weapons, and the fundamentalist government has stepped up persecution of religious minorities to deflect criticism,” Pitts, a Republican, told FoxNews.com. “The persecuted are their own citizens, whose only crime is practicing their faith.”
The ACLJ has been a major driving force in keeping Nadarkhani’s case in the international spotlight. Many other advocacy groups and human rights organizations also have mounted global campaigns and petitions against the Iranian government, and experts credit Nadarkhani’s international support for keeping him alive.
The ACLJ recently launched a Twitter campaign to publicize Nadarkhani’s case, asking participants to dedicate a daily tweet to “Tweet for Youcef,” stating the number of days he has been imprisoned (currently 863) and ending the tweet with “ViaOfficialACLJ,” sending readers back to the organization’s website where they could learn more about his case.
Tweets have reached 157 countries and over 400,000 people.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and 89 members of Congress, along with the European Union, France, Great Britain, Mexico and Germany, have condemned Iran for arresting Nadarkhani and have called for his quick release.
Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 and was tried and found guilty of apostasy by a lower court in Gilan, a province in Rasht. He was then given verbal notification of an impending death-by-hanging sentence.
His lawyers appealed the decision under the premise that Nadarkhani was never a Muslim at the age of majority, and the case was sent to Iran’s Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court’s decision of execution, provided it could be proven that he had been a practicing Muslim from the age of adulthood, 15 in Islamic law, to age 19, which was when he converted.
The lower court then ruled that Nadarkhani had not practiced Islam during his adult life but still upheld the apostasy charge because he was born into a Muslim family.
The court then gave Nadarkhani the opportunity to recant, as the law requires a man to be given three chances to recant his beliefs and return to Islam.
His first option was to convert back to Islam. When he refused, he was asked to declare Muhammad a prophet, and still he declined.
Iran’s judiciary had delayed in issuing a final verdict, fearing the decision would have far-reaching political implications.
Sources say Nadarkhani has been advised by family members, lawyers and members of his church to remain silent throughout his ordeal, out of fear that authorities may use his statements against him, a strategy commonly employed by the regime.
Dec 25, 2011
Jordanian Mosque One of Many Named in Honor of Jesus Christ
Islamtoday.net - "The Mosque of Jesus Christ" is the exact name given to a mosque in the city of Madaba, south of the Jordanian capital Amman, founded in 2008.
This mosque is presently being hailed by the international news media as the first an only mosque in the modern Arab world to ever be named after Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).
In fact, it is not the only -- or even the first -- mosque in the Arab world to be named in Christ's honor. There is the Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) Mosque in Tripoli Lebanon, the famous Jesus Mosque in Giza Egypt, and countless other small mosques carrying the name without any claim to fame.
This is not to mention a number of mosques named "Jesus" in reference to the mosque's founder, since Jesus is a common first name for Muslims throughout the Arab world.
It may be true, however, that the mosque in Jordan is the first in the Arab world to be specifically called the "Jesus Christ Mosque" (Masjid Isa al-Maseeh), since it is more common for Muslims in Arab countries to refer to Christ as Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus the Son of Mary).
The naming of the "Jesus Christ Mosque" was a jesture noticable enough in Jordan to be appreciated. According to the newspaper Al Quds Al Arabì, what makes the new Jesus Christ Mosque so special is that both Muslims and Christians have shown appreciation for it.
The mosque of Jesus Christ is situated near a famous Church in the city of Madaba. According to ANSA reports, the idea for the name came from Jamal Al Sufrati, the mosque's imam, who also believed the mosque to be the first of its kind. "It occurred to me", the imam stated, "that the Arab world is full of mosques that are named after all prophets except Jesus."
The imam explained that "the mosque wishes to send out a message of togetherness and tolerance, particularly after the tensions between the two religions over two offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad."
Jesus is one of the major prophets of Islam and is recognized by Muslims to be the Christ (al-Maseeh in Arabic). There are in fact mosques named in Jesus' honor all over the world. Among more recent additions are the Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) Mosque in Stratford Connecticuit, and another in Columbus Ohio.
This mosque is presently being hailed by the international news media as the first an only mosque in the modern Arab world to ever be named after Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).
In fact, it is not the only -- or even the first -- mosque in the Arab world to be named in Christ's honor. There is the Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) Mosque in Tripoli Lebanon, the famous Jesus Mosque in Giza Egypt, and countless other small mosques carrying the name without any claim to fame.
This is not to mention a number of mosques named "Jesus" in reference to the mosque's founder, since Jesus is a common first name for Muslims throughout the Arab world.
It may be true, however, that the mosque in Jordan is the first in the Arab world to be specifically called the "Jesus Christ Mosque" (Masjid Isa al-Maseeh), since it is more common for Muslims in Arab countries to refer to Christ as Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus the Son of Mary).
The naming of the "Jesus Christ Mosque" was a jesture noticable enough in Jordan to be appreciated. According to the newspaper Al Quds Al Arabì, what makes the new Jesus Christ Mosque so special is that both Muslims and Christians have shown appreciation for it.
The mosque of Jesus Christ is situated near a famous Church in the city of Madaba. According to ANSA reports, the idea for the name came from Jamal Al Sufrati, the mosque's imam, who also believed the mosque to be the first of its kind. "It occurred to me", the imam stated, "that the Arab world is full of mosques that are named after all prophets except Jesus."
The imam explained that "the mosque wishes to send out a message of togetherness and tolerance, particularly after the tensions between the two religions over two offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad."
Jesus is one of the major prophets of Islam and is recognized by Muslims to be the Christ (al-Maseeh in Arabic). There are in fact mosques named in Jesus' honor all over the world. Among more recent additions are the Isa Bin Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) Mosque in Stratford Connecticuit, and another in Columbus Ohio.
Mar 31, 2011
Could this be the biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls? Seventy metal books found in cave in Jordan could change our view of Biblical history
Dailymail.co.uk - For scholars of faith and history, it is a treasure trove too precious for price.
This ancient collection of 70 tiny books, their lead pages bound with wire, could unlock some of the secrets of the earliest days of Christianity.
Academics are divided as to their authenticity but say that if verified, they could prove as pivotal as the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947.
On pages not much bigger than a credit card, are images, symbols and words that appear to refer to the Messiah and, possibly even, to the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
Adding to the intrigue, many of the books are sealed, prompting academics to speculate they are actually the lost collection of codices mentioned in the Bible’s Book Of Revelation.
The books were discovered five years ago in a cave in a remote part of Jordan to which Christian refugees are known to have fled after the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. Important documents from the same period have previously been found there.
Initial metallurgical tests indicate that some of the books could date from the first century AD.
This estimate is based on the form of corrosion which has taken place, which experts believe would be impossible to achieve artificially.
If the dating is verified, the books would be among the earliest Christian documents, predating the writings of St Paul.
The prospect that they could contain contemporary accounts of the final years of Jesus’s life has excited scholars – although their enthusiasm is tempered by the fact that experts have previously been fooled by sophisticated fakes.
David Elkington, a British scholar of ancient religious history and archeology, and one of the few to have examined the books, says they could be ‘the major discovery of Christian history’.
‘It is a breathtaking thought that we have held these objects that might have been held by the early saints of the Church,’ he said.
But the mysteries between their ancient pages are not the books’ only riddle. Today, their whereabouts are also something of a mystery. After their discovery by a Jordanian Bedouin, the hoard was subsequently acquired by an Israeli Bedouin, who is said to have illegally smuggled them across the border into Israel, where they remain.
However, the Jordanian Government is now working at the highest levels to repatriate and safeguard the collection. Philip Davies, emeritus professor of biblical studies at Sheffield University, said there was powerful evidence that the books have a Christian origin in plates cast into a picture map of the holy city of Jerusalem.
‘As soon as I saw that, I was dumbstruck,’ he said. ‘That struck me as so obviously a Christian image. There is a cross in the foreground, and behind it is what has to be the tomb [of Jesus], a small building with an opening, and behind that the walls of the city.
‘There are walls depicted on other pages of these books too and they almost certainly refer to Jerusalem. It is a Christian crucifixion taking place outside the city walls.’
The British team leading the work on the discovery fears that the present Israeli ‘keeper’ may be looking to sell some of the books on to the black market, or worse – destroy them.
But the man who holds the books denies the charge and claims they have been in his family for 100 years.
Dr Margaret Barker, a former president of the Society for Old Testament Study, said: ‘The Book of Revelation tells of a sealed book that was opened only by the Messiah.
‘Other texts from the period tell of sealed books of wisdom and of a secret tradition passed on by Jesus to his closest disciples. That is the context for this discovery.’
Professor Davies said: ‘The possibility of a Hebrew-Christian origin is certainly suggested by the imagery and, if so, these codices are likely to bring dramatic new light to our understanding of a very significant but so far little understood period of history.’
Mr Elkington, who is leading British efforts to have the books returned to Jordan, said: ‘It is vital that the collection can be recovered intact and secured in the best possible circumstances, both for the benefit of its owners and for a potentially fascinated international audience.’
May 25, 2009
Parents Fuming as Texas Schools Let Gideons Provide Bibles to Students
Some parents in
Frisco Independent Schools allowed Gideons International to display Bibles on tabletops in all 13 of the district's middle and high schools last week. Officials say it didn't violate the law, but some parents say school is not the place to be offering the Good Book.
"I was never notified by the schools that they were going to allow this. I was a little shocked," said Debbie Lutz, a mother with three children who attend schools in Frisco, about
Michael Baier, who has a son at Frisco's
"If they're God-fearing Christians ... they should be giving those items wherever they worship. School is a place to learn, not a place to worship," Baier told.
Lutz said she wants the freedom to raise her children as she sees fit — and without the interference of religious groups. She told she worried that allowing one group to offer Bibles in the school would open the floodgates to any groups who want to reach students on school grounds.
"It does open the door for other people to have the right to hand out other stuff. And I think that's not a good door to open."
School administrators say that door was opened because the Gideons used to stand on public sidewalks near the schools and distribute Bibles to students as they went home.
That raised some alarms for parents, some of whom even contacted the police about their children's safety. And it stymied the school system, which says it has "no control over what takes place on the public sidewalks."
The Gideons are now taking advantage of a school policy that allows them to leave Bibles on a tabletop in the schools' front offices, though they're barred from interacting with students or remaining there during school hours.
A spokeswoman for the school district said that a number of materials are made available to students this way, including newspapers, camp brochures and tutoring pamphlets. College and military recruitment information is available all year long. The Gideon Bibles were made available for just one day.
"We have to handle this request in the same manner as other requests to distribute non-school literature — in a viewpoint neutral manner," Shana Wortham, director of communications for the district, wrote in an e-mail.
Wortham said that the schools did not solicit or invite the Gideons in, and when one of the evangelists tried to speak to students, administrators quickly stepped in to address the violation.
Gideons International had no comment on their in-school offerings when contacted by phone Tuesday.
Adult representatives for the Gideons have been barred by federal circuit courts from offering Bibles inside classrooms, but they continue to offer to provide them at many schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and elsewhere. The group, founded in 1907, has distributed about 1.5 billion Bibles in the last century, mostly in hotel rooms.
Some parents weren't troubled by the presence of the Gideons or their Bibles.
Holly McCall, president of the parent-teacher association at
"I didn't feel like [the Bible] was being pushed upon" students at the school, she told. She said she didn't expect to be notified every time books or pamphlets are on offer in the office at Roach Middle. That would be like an advertisement for the Bible, she said.
School officials told they would continue to review their policies, but they stressed that they had followed the letter of the law.
But for some parents looking for a neutral education in the public school system, that wasn't enough.
Lutz, whose children go to schools in the district, said she wants the freedom to raise her children as she sees fit — and without the interference of other religious groups.
"I am not atheist — I believe in God," she told. "But I just don't want any religion forced on my child at school. That's why my child goes to a public school."
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